Despite hullaballoo over whether the JVM still continuing talks with the BJP for a possible merger and the negotiations reaching a decisive phase after the inauspicious 'Kharmas', JVM supreme Babulal Marandi, once again reiterated on Sunday that there was absolutely no chances of his party merging with the BJP.
In the Central Executive Committee meeting of the party on Sunday Marandi shrugged off media reports suggesting his willingness to merge with the BJP and said that his meeting with former Advocate General Anil Sinha on Saturday was on a personal case rather than discussing legalities of merger and Cabinet expansion dates.
"Nothing has changed in the State for the last 14 years, still no change could be visible after the formation of Raghubar Das-led NDA Government," said Marandi. Since this Government is still new, it must be given some more time to prove itself, he added. "As the Government is in majority, we can expect a positive change leading to the change in the present scenario," the JVM chief said, adding that the party has to stand on its own.
On the controversy over his meeting with the former Advocate General, Marandi became defensive stating that there was no question of merger. He also advised others and not to get carried away with the misleading reports coming in the media.
Marandi further added that although the BJP has formed the Government, it did not get the mandate of the people at large. "The BJP has received merely 34 per cent of the total voting took place during the last Assembly elections, which cannot be termed as clear mandate to rule the people of State," said Marandi.
"We have got 10 per cent votes and grabbed eight seats. I appeal to the legislators not to go to the people with half-heated resolve. Take a strong resolve and go to the people with the ideology of the party," Marandi said, appealing to the MlAs to shun the habit of giving individual opinions in the public.
Referring to the controversy over the domicile policy being demanded by the people of the State, Marandi suggested that the jobs under grade III and IV of the State Government should be reserved for domicile of this State. "An Ordinance must be passed by Parliament for making all jobs under Grade III and IV of the State Government reserved for the domicile Jharkhand," said Marandi.
In the meeting, the party also decided to stage a dharna in front of all collectorates across the State demanding several steps on the issues, including rollback of land Acquisition Ordinance, cancellation of tender of sand ghats, jobs for locals and purchase centres for farmers among others.